What Does an Equipment Operator Do?

Equipment operators are employees who are assigned to work on specific company equipment. They are skilled workers trained to handle all aspects of the particular equipment, from basic operating to repairing. They use the equipment and ensure that safety standards are being followed. Aside from managing the equipment, they are also in charge of repairs and maintenance. They are responsible for ensuring that the machine works properly, troubleshooting if there are challenges encountered, and repairing any problems. Equipment operators are reliable, trustworthy, and attentive.

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Equipment Operator Responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real equipment operator resumes representing typical tasks they are likely to perform in their roles.

Manage and cross-train subordinates in several job-relate tasks while promoting leadership.
Operate track loader, dozer, excavator, track skid loader, rubber tire loader, and haul truck as assigned.
Operate heavy equipment including loaders and rollers.
Operate bulldozers, compactors, and scrapers for residential land development
Work include backhoe operation, equipment operation, landscaping and snow removal
Operate backhoes and trench diggers.
Perform all JSA and tailgate meetings.
General maintenance of grounds.Dirt and demolition work.
Ensure that material is delivered to the roof using ladders, pulleys and ropes.
Dig holes, using augers, and set poles using digger derrick and power equipment.
Perform daily JSA'S and keep up with performance sheets of each individual on the crew.
Shop upkeep, welding, oxygen and acetylene torches, working on and maintaining all equipment.
Drive any CDL require vehicle and operate all equipment in the oilfield for the extraction of oil.
DOT regulate position requiring drivers log and daily vehicle inspection duties along with monthly vehicle maintenance records.
Have driven trucks (no CDL currently) hauling hay, grain, water, equipment and fertilizer.

Equipment Operator Job Description

When it comes to understanding what an equipment operator does, you may be wondering, "should I become an equipment operator?" The data included in this section may help you decide. Compared to other jobs, equipment operators have a growth rate described as "faster than average" at 10% between the years 2018 - 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fact, the number of equipment operator opportunities that are predicted to open up by 2028 is 44,000.

On average, the equipment operator annual salary is $31,739 per year, which translates to $15.26 an hour. Generally speaking, equipment operators earn anywhere from $24,000 to $40,000 a year, which means that the top-earning equipment operators make $13,000 more than the ones at the lower end of the spectrum.

It's hard work to become an equipment operator, but even the most dedicated employees consider switching careers from time to time. Whether you're interested in a more challenging position or just looking for a fresh start, we've compiled extensive information on becoming a crew foreman, mechanical spreader operator, heavy machinery operator, and foreman/operator.

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12 Equipment Operator Resume Examples

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Charles Rodriguez Equipment Operator Contact Information Williston, ND (490) 555-4417 crodriguez@example.com Skills Hazmat Safety Meetings Job Sites Tire Pressure Customer Orders Retail Sales New Customers POS Plant Maintenance Forklifts Employment History Equipment Operator 2020 - Present Schlumberger Williston, ND Stay up to date on Training, job certifications, and safety meetings. Disconnect treating connections while following safety procedures and return them to proper location. Earned my Class B Straight Truck CDL Permit and was H2S Safety Certified. Maintained all training service quality, HSE standards, PPE, and all other certification well control, radiation, etc. Work with MSDS and always use proper PPE Road Equipment Operator 2017 - 2020 United Parcel Service New York, NY Appropriate city, state and federalsafety precautions, policies andprocedures applicable to all types ofequipment operation and publicsafety.2. operate heavy equipment for train derailments Operated Backhoe and skid steer for demolition jobs. Driver Sales 2010 - 2017 United Parcel Service New York, NY Clean driving record, ability to multi task and handle high stress, are a must in order to succeed. Trained in safety standards for package delivery and customer interfacing. Use proper care when loading and unloading packages from Company vehicle. Assisted with package delivery Loaded and organized trucks for departure Operated device to manage routes Education High School Diploma 2010 - 2010


Patricia Carter Equipment Operator Contact Info Jacksonville, NC (500) 555-1957 pcarter@example.com Skills MshaFlow LinesHigh PressureRANSafety MeetingsHeavy EquipmentRigOilfieldHelicopterBucket Truck Employment History Equipment Operator 2019 - Present United States Marine Jacksonville, NC Earned a class B cdl with an air brake endorsement Trained new drivers on the proper procedures for DOT regulated inspections. Participate or lead safety meetings, hazard hunts and ensures JSA's are followed. Conducted weekly safety meetings with labor force. Scraper Operator 2018 - 2019 Island Operating New Iberia, LA tasked to perform daily operations in GOM. Generated production/safety reports and carried out monthly safety inspections of components on production equipment. Monitored production equipment and make adjustment to control production flowrate. Operated the baler at the facility until obtaining my CDL. Roustabout 2016 - 2018 Nabors Offshore New Iberia, LA Participate in daily safety meetings on all projects. Use radios and hand signals to communicate with crane operator, boat crews and other personnel and maintain safe work environment. Take part in daily Safety meetings including tool box meeting prior to completing a task. Painted walls, metal platform decks, heavy machinery, and hand rails. Crane crew Relief for Drill crew Paint Clean and maintain Education High School Diploma 2016 - 2016


Ralph Johnson Equipment Operator Memphis, TN (740) 555-2708 rjohnson@example.com Experience Equipment Operator2016 - Present Ingram Micro•Memphis, TN Developed a system to help operators as well as finishers to optimize quality checks with efficiency and accuracy. Transported pallets of mail throughout the facility by use of forklifts and jeeps. Scheduled and managed equipment operation and conducted inspections. Operated 40-ton overhead cranes for pickup and loading of scrap metal into charge buckets. Operated articulated dump trucks and skid steers. Batch Plant Operator2006 - 2016 Forklifts•Memphis, TN Dubbed, transferred and performed quality checks for all programming. Bus Operator, Instructor, Sanitation Engineer ( RETIRED) Taught the CDL License.and taught New Employees How to drive Vehicle. Ensured all AS/400 daily operations completed successfully. Adhere to good manufacturing practices and safety standards. Heavy Equipment Operator And Foreman2000 - 2006 Walmart•Bentonville, AR Received and recorded stock items, entering the data manually and/or through utilizing the company's RF Scanners. Maintain situational awareness to avoid any unnecessary risks and ensure safety compliances such as OSHA were followed at all times. Complied with company policies, procedures, standard of ethics, and ensured freight quality and integrity Learned how to use some of the Walmart equipment such as a pallet jack, and a epc in store gun. Skills BOB CatBobcatDaily OperationsMajor RepairsBackhoeHazmatCustomer SpecificationsWet PlantForkliftsCompany Policies Education Certificate Education1999 - 2000 Ohio State University•Columbus, OH

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Equipment Operator Skills and Personality Traits

We calculated that 10% of Equipment Operators are proficient in CDL, Loaders, and Asphalt. They’re also known for soft skills such as Physical strength, Unafraid of heights, and Mechanical skills.

We break down the percentage of Equipment Operators that have these skills listed on their resume here:

CDL, 10%
Included driving equipment from site to site (CDL Required) and ran all equipment including LAS unit & Hydration unit.
Loaders, 7%
Operated excavators and track loaders to excavate basements and footers in residential developments.
Asphalt, 5%
Asphalt removal, contaminated soil removal, underground tank removal and insulation
Backhoe, 5%
Operate Cat, backhoe, front end loader, forklift, lowboy, dump truck, water truck, and excavator Mechanic
Hand Tools, 5%
Maintained state-owned right-away buildings and travel-way using various hand tools and heavy equipment.
Safety Rules, 4%
Followed all safety rules, operating instructions, maintenance instructions, technical instructions, procedure manuals and specifications.

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Some of the skills we found on equipment operator resumes included "cdl," "loaders," and "asphalt." We have detailed the most important equipment operator responsibilities below.

Physical strength can be considered to be the most important personality trait for an equipment operator to have. According to a equipment operator resume, "construction equipment operators may be required to lift more than 50 pounds as part of their duties." Equipment operators are able to use physical strength in the following example we gathered from a resume: "test soils or materials to determine the adequacy and strength of foundations, concrete, asphalt, or steel. "

Another trait important for fulfilling equipment operator duties is unafraid of heights. According to a equipment operator resume, "construction equipment operators may work at great heights." Here's an example of how equipment operators are able to utilize unafraid of heights: "completed intensive on-the-job training in hazmat and acquired certification for appropriate handling of hazardous materials. "

Mechanical skills is also an important skill for equipment operators to have. This example of how equipment operators use this skill comes from a equipment operator resume, "construction equipment operators often perform basic maintenance on the equipment they operate" Read this excerpt from a resume to understand how vital it is to their everyday roles and responsibilities, "perform routine maintenance and minor mechanical adjustments and repairs of motor equipment operated. "

See the full list of equipment operator skills.

We've found that 17.7% of equipment operators have earned a bachelor's degree. Furthermore, 1.5% earned their master's degrees before becoming an equipment operator. While it's true that some equipment operators have a college degree, it's generally possible to become one with only a high school degree. In fact, one out of every two equipment operators did not spend the extra money to attend college.

Those equipment operators who do attend college, typically earn either business degrees or general studies degrees. Less commonly earned degrees for equipment operators include automotive technology degrees or criminal justice degrees.

Once you've obtained the level of education you're comfortable with, you might start applying to companies to become an equipment operator. We've found that most equipment operator resumes include experience from Walmart, Tradesmen International, and Pike. Of recent, Walmart had 157 positions open for equipment operators. Meanwhile, there are 97 job openings at Tradesmen International and 87 at Pike.

But if you're interested in companies where you might earn a high salary, equipment operators tend to earn the biggest salaries at Nelsen Partners, City of Detroit, and King County. Take Nelsen Partners for example. The median equipment operator salary is $49,448. At City of Detroit, equipment operators earn an average of $45,659, while the average at King County is $44,131. You should take into consideration how difficult it might be to secure a job with one of these companies.

View more details on equipment operator salaries across the United States.

Some other companies you might be interested in as a equipment operator include United States Army Corps of Engineers, Schlumberger, and United States Marine. These three companies were found to hire the most equipment operators from the top 100 U.S. educational institutions.

For the most part, equipment operators make their living in the construction and manufacturing industries. Equipment operators tend to make the most in the energy industry with an average salary of $38,765. The equipment operator annual salary in the government and construction industries generally make $36,669 and $36,102 respectively. Additionally, equipment operators who work in the energy industry make 3.8% more than equipment operators in the retail Industry.

The three companies that hire the most prestigious equipment operators are:

Walmart157 Equipment Operators Jobs
Tradesmen International97 Equipment Operators Jobs
Pike87 Equipment Operators Jobs

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What Crew Foremans Do

A crew foreman coordinates the daily activities in a construction site to ensure that operations adhere to deadlines, budgets, and quality standards. They serve as the point of contact for supervisors, clients, and construction workers. They are also in charge of managing construction schedules, conducting assessments and evaluations, hiring staff, training staff, monitoring supplies, and ordering materials. Additionally, they must enforce safety regulations.

We looked at the average equipment operator annual salary and compared it with the average of a crew foreman. Generally speaking, crew foremen receive $20,190 higher pay than equipment operators per year.

Even though equipment operators and crew foremen have vast differences in their careers, a few of the skills required to do both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require cdl, backhoe, and hand tools in the day-to-day roles.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. An equipment operator responsibility is more likely to require skills like "loaders," "asphalt," "safety rules," and "math." Whereas a crew foreman requires skills like "good communication," "bucket truck," "construction projects," and "safety equipment." Just by understanding these different skills you can see how different these careers are.

Crew foremen receive the highest salaries in the utilities industry coming in with an average yearly salary of $53,154. But equipment operators are paid more in the energy industry with an average salary of $38,765.

Crew foremen tend to reach similar levels of education than equipment operators. In fact, crew foremen are 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

What Are The Duties Of a Mechanical Spreader Operator?

A mechanical spreader operators manage and operate all equipment in various industries where they perform their jobs. The operators work as general mechanics in building HVAC, general building maintenance, and pump station operations. They test electro-mechanical subsystems for operational reliability and circuit integrity. Their job includes promoting quality assurance and performance improvement programs within the organization. Also, they perform an energy audit to improve the efficiency of HVAC energy.

Now we're going to look at the mechanical spreader operator profession. On average, mechanical spreader operators earn a $10,523 higher salary than equipment operators a year.

A similarity between the two careers of equipment operators and mechanical spreader operators are a few of the skills associated with both roles. We used resumes from both professions to find that both use skills like "cdl," "hand tools," and "safety rules. "

But both careers also use different skills, according to real equipment operator resumes. While equipment operator responsibilities can utilize skills like "loaders," "asphalt," "backhoe," and "osha," some mechanical spreader operators use skills like "plumbing," "preventive maintenance," "repair equipment," and "mechanical systems."

On average, mechanical spreader operators earn a higher salary than equipment operators. There are industries that support higher salaries in each profession respectively. Interestingly enough, mechanical spreader operators earn the most pay in the energy industry with an average salary of $48,520. Whereas, equipment operators have higher paychecks in the energy industry where they earn an average of $38,765.

On the topic of education, mechanical spreader operators earn similar levels of education than equipment operators. In general, they're 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

How a Heavy Machinery Operator Compares

The heavy machinery operator profession generally makes a lower amount of money when compared to the average salary of equipment operators. The difference in salaries is heavy machinery operators making $388 lower than equipment operators.

By looking over several equipment operators and heavy machinery operators resumes, we found that both roles utilize similar skills, such as "cdl," "backhoe," and "end loaders." But beyond that the careers look very different.

As mentioned, these two careers differ between other skills that are required for performing the work exceedingly well. For example, gathering from equipment operators resumes, they are more likely to have skills like "loaders," "asphalt," "hand tools," and "safety rules." But a heavy machinery operator might have skills like "inspect machines," "assembly line," "steer loader," and "machine operation."

Heavy machinery operators make a very good living in the automotive industry with an average annual salary of $36,835. Whereas equipment operators are paid the highest salary in the energy industry with the average being $38,765.

When it comes to education, heavy machinery operators tend to earn similar education levels than equipment operators. In fact, they're 0.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Description Of a Foreman/Operator

Foreman/operators tend to earn a higher pay than equipment operators by about $21,105 per year.

While both equipment operators and foreman/operators complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like cdl, backhoe, and end loaders, the two careers also vary in other skills.

Each job requires different skills like "loaders," "asphalt," "hand tools," and "safety rules," which might show up on an equipment operator resume. Whereas foreman/operator might include skills like "dozer," "underground utilities," "competent person," and "jsa."

The average resume of foreman/operators showed that they earn similar levels of education to equipment operators. So much so that the likelihood of them earning a Master's Degree is 0.7% less. Additionally, they're more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.1%.

Updated October 2, 2020